Page 1 of Threads of Kindness
CHAPTER 1
Maggie Martin snuggled under the covers, her hand searching for her husband in the empty space beside her. The area where he was meant to be lying was still warm. Even on Christmas morning, it did not surprise her that John Allen, DVM, was not in bed.
She rolled onto her back and listened for sounds of him. The bedroom remained quiet. Maggie turned onto her side and opened an eye a slit. Her nightstand clock displayed 4:55 a.m.
Maggie inhaled and snuggled deeper into her pillow. She and John didn’t have to be anywhere on this Christmas morning until 7:00 a.m. Susan and her husband Aaron had invited them for breakfast and to see Julia open her Santa presents. There was nothing like witnessing a small child experience the wonder of Santa Claus.
Maggie thought back to those long-ago days when Mike and Susan had been children, and she and Paul, her deceased husband, were young parents. They had been happy then—hadn’t they? She had always believed that, but his later betrayals cast doubt on the truth behind her early marital memories.
Maggie squeezed her eyes shut and pressed her head further into the pillow in a futile attempt to banish the unwelcomethoughts of her late husband.She sighed and flung the covers aside. Troubled by unsettling memories, she couldn’t get back to sleep.
Maggie shoved her feet into the slippers that lived at the side of her bed and shrugged into her fuzzy robe. She padded to the bank of tall, mullioned windows that overlooked the rear gardens and pulled the heavy drape aside.
Moonlight bathed the sloping back lawn that extended to a line of trees along the rear of the property. Westbury had received another two inches of snow overnight. The unblemished blanket of white looked like icing on a cake dusted with glittery sugar. The scene was magical—perfect for Christmas morning.
Breaking with years of tradition, she wasn’t hosting Christmas dinner at Rosemont this year. Since Thanksgiving, when it had been decided to hold this year’s dinner at the Olsson House, she had been telling herself she was grateful for the break in her routine. The fall, with new allegations against Paul—and, by extension, herself, since he was deceased—had been intensely stressful. She should be glad that the only thing she had to do today was get dressed, go to Susan’s in the morning, and join the crew at the Olsson House later in the day. She was free to do as she pleased.
As she held the curtain open, Maggie realized she was sad and depressed. She loved preparing to host a party almost as much as she loved giving the party itself. Having a jam-packed schedule was as much a part of her holiday tradition as exchanging gifts, singing carols, and gathering with friends and family. Now that the script had been flipped and she was the guest, Maggie wasn’t sure she liked the feeling.
Eve, the faithful terrier mix who had adopted her on the night she moved into Rosemont, rose from her bed in the corner of the room and came to stand by her mistress. The intuitivepup rose on her hind legs and placed her paws against Maggie’s thigh.
“You know I’m out of sorts, don’t you, girl?” Maggie leaned to one side to stroke the soft fur of the animal she loved.
Eve wagged her tail and peppered Maggie’s hand with doggy kisses.
“Don’t worry about me, girl. I’m being silly. Today is going to be a wonderful day. It’s going to be a different kind of Christmas from the ones I love. But things change, and I need to change with them. Before I know it, Susan will be in charge of Christmas Day, and John and I will be guests. It’ll be fine.”
Maggie let the curtain drop back into place and lowered her knee to the floor until she was face-to-face with her pup.
“Has your buddy, Roman, followed John to the kitchen?”
Eve thrashed her tail, nearly knocking herself off balance.
“I thought so,” Maggie said. “Let’s go downstairs to see what they’re up to. It’s time for your breakfast, too. It’s time to get this Christmas Day started.”
Eve trotted aheadas Maggie stepped onto the staircase that hugged the outer wall of Rosemont and opened to the living room. A fire crackled in the hearth and the lights of the Christmas tree that soared to the ceiling in the center of the room were on. The flickering flames threw into sharp relief their stockings, hanging from the mantel.
Maggie paused on the bottom step to survey the welcoming scene in front of her. Not a day went by that she didn’t appreciate the beauty of their home. She would always be grateful for the sequence of unexpected events that had led her to Rosemont and her dream man.
The aroma of freshly brewed coffee drew her toward the kitchen. The library, dining room, and conservatory glowed with the light of their smaller Christmas trees.All is calm, all is bright,Maggie thought.
She padded into the kitchen to find her husband setting a carafe of coffee on a tray holding two giant-sized Christmas mugs. Beside them was a pink bakery box, its lid pulled open to reveal an assortment of croissants and Danish pastries.
“Merry Christmas, sweetheart,” Maggie said, crossing to him and standing on her tiptoes to plant a kiss on his cheek.
John abandoned the tray and swept her into his arms. “Merry Christmas to you, darling.” He bent, and they kissed.
When they finally pulled apart, Maggie stepped back and finally noticed what he was wearing.
“You’re in scrubs,” she said. “Are you going to the animal hospital?”
“Just for a bit. We’re boarding a couple of surgical patients who need to be checked on. I’ll look in on them this morning, and Sherry will do the same this evening. That way, I won’t miss the fun at the Olsson House.”
“You remember we’re going to Susan’s?”
“Of course. Do you honestly think I would forget being with Julia when she opens her gifts?”
“Good point. No, I don’t. If there’s one thing I know, it’s that anything that involves her is your top priority.” She pointed to the tray. “So, what’s all this?”
